Ex-TTGF official takes responsibility for removing Lue Shue’s name from Dick’s FIG profile

A former Trinidad and Tobago Gymnastics Federation (TTGF) official, who asked to remain anonymous, has taken responsibility for changes to Marisa Dick’s profile on the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) website.

More specifically, the official claimed that it was she—rather than the FIG—who deleted TTGF second vice president Ricardo Lue Shue’s name from Dick’s profile so he no longer appeared as the gymnast’s assistant coach.

Photo: Trinidad and Tobago Gymnastics Federation second vice president and former president Ricardo Lue Shue (left) shakes hands with SPORTT Company official Anthony Creed.Lue Shue will act as Marisa Dick’s coach in Brazil.(Courtesy SPORTT)

Wired868 confirmed, from an independent source, that the former TTGF general secretary, who resigned in mid-2015, was historically the person entrusted with uploading data related to the local gymnastics body and its athletes on the FIG’s website.

And, although the former gymnastics official does not hold an official role with the FIG or TTGF at present, she claimed that she continues to access and alter information on the website of the world governing body.

“I am not a TTGF representative,” said the source. “I am independent and was retained for the sole purpose of FIG and PAGU coordination and administration of the elite events for all three gymnasts—Thema, Marisa and Joe.”

Her actions created a stir after Wired868 was surprised to see that Lue Shue’s name had been erased from Dick’s profile, which now bears only the names of her head coach Ovidiu Serban and choreographer Anna Pelletier.

The likelihood of a conflict of interest due to Lue Shue and his wife and TTGF assistant treasurer Donna Lue Shue’s involvement in the controversial decision to replace Thema Williams with Dick for the April Rio 2016 Olympic Test event is almost certain to feature in any legal action against the local gymnastics body in the coming weeks.

The Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee (TTOC) signalled its intention to charge the TTGF under clause 13 of its constitution while Williams’ attorney, Keith Scotland, also retained the right to sue for unjust treatment and breach of contract.

Photo: The FIG’s altered profile of Trinidad and Tobago gymnast Marisa Dick.Ricardo Lue Shue’s name was omitted as assistant coach.Photo: The FIG’s profile of Trinidad and Tobago gymnast Marisa Dick on 30 April 2016.(Courtesy Caroline Taylor)

However, the former TTGF official claimed there was nothing dodgy about Lue Shue’s removal as he had only been put there for the Test event in the first place. She insisted that Lue Shue never acted as Dick’s coach before and will not do so at the August Olympics.

“I went on the FIG site on the morning of the 16th of April, like 4 am, when I was trying to do the ‘change of athlete’ paperwork,” said the former official. “I could not change Marisa in the database for the competition because that was closed. In order for Ricardo to be accredited to go on the floor with her, he had to be listed as coach.

“So I had to go on her database entry and manually put him in… I took him out because we are going into the Olympic Games and those are the two coaches.”

The official tried to explain why she adjusted only that one name for both athletes.

For instance, she did not erase the names of Serban or Pelletier from Dick’s profile for the Test event, although she knew they would not attend.

And Williams’ profile had Debra Knowles-Garcia as assistant coach and choreographer although she did not travel to Brazil.

Photo: Trinidad and Tobago gymnast Thema Williams performs at the Toronto 2015 Pan American Games.Williams was in line to be Trinidad and Tobago’s first gymnast to perform at an Olympic Games.(Courtesy Allan V Crane/Wired868)

Why not alter those as well?

“Because they are their historic coaches,” she said.

After 9 am on Saturday April 16, the TTGF would have needed a medical report to replace her with Dick. And there was none. Dick’s mother, Hannifer, also said she refused to begin their trip to Rio de Janeiro—on the night of April 15—until she was assured that they would be accredited in time.

FIG rules also states that: “The gymnast injured or ill must return his/her accreditation and another gymnast can be accredited.”

Since Williams only returned her accreditation at about 9.15 am, was it not past the deadline?

Photo: Trinidad and Tobago gymnasts Marisa Dick (right) wave to the crowd during the Opening Ceremony of the Toronto 2015 Pan-American Games at Rogers Stadium, Toronto on July 2015.(Courtesy Allan V Crane/Wired868)

“Her accreditation was already cancelled in the system,” she said. “Turning in her card was secondary, as with athletes who are replaced and absent-mindedly leave the country without returning to the accreditation centre.”

So the FIG’s rules are not meant to be followed verbatim?

“Whatever the TTGF did on the night of the 15th, they will have to answer for and justify,” she said. “(But) FIG was not involved in any wrongdoing. Their rules and timelines are intact and were respected…

“That’s the truth and I stand by it.”

On Monday May 2, TTOC president Brian Lewis and his games management committee of Annette Knott, Ian Hypolite, Diane Henderson and Dr Terrence Ali announced their decision to send Dick to the Olympic Games, which was based largely on FIG’s declaration that no rules were broken in the TTGF’s replacement of Williams.

However, the TTGF can still be penalised for its actions, which appeared to violate its contract with the athlete and, arguably, the tenets of natural justice.

According to clause 13 of the TTOC’s constitution, which is titled “Measures and Sanctions”:

“When a member has failed to fulfil his/her or its duties. has infringed the Olympic Charter, the IOC Code of Ethics and/or this Constitution or has not respected or implemented the decisions or resolutions of the organs of the IOC, he/she or it may be subject to the following graduated measures and sanctions (depending on the gravity of the facts and the level of damage or infringement): (a) Warning, (b) Suspension, (c) Expulsion.”

About Lasana Liburd

Lasana Liburd is the CEO and Editor at Wired868.com and a journalist with over 20 years experience at several Trinidad and Tobago and international publications including Play the Game, World Soccer, UK Guardian and the Trinidad Express.

73 comments

The fearless one has now become the fearful one. In his program yesterday on i95.5fm, he was so fearful he couldn’t say TTGF. He said the people in the Gymnastics. He continues to read the email of Thelma’s coach and blaming him. But not one word against the TTGF. Like he has some close pals there or what.

If you’ve made the changes, who authorized them? Who gave directive that the changes be made?

I’m certain, that since its the official website of the Gymnastics Federation, that there must be some policy governing the updating of the contents. This retiree couldn’t on her own volition make critical changes without them being authorized.

I’m a bit disappointed that the investigation didn’t explore that aspect of the website.

If it looks like a rat and smells like a rat, more than likely, it is a rat.
All the moves concerning Thema and Dick issue by these associations has been shady. Smh, not honor to office they hold. SHADY! AND DISHONORABLE!

Well, it would make sense the ex-official wants to remain anonymous…. like the other set of TTGF thieves in the night, who withdrew Ms. Williams at the very last moment… like the random anonymous ppl who posted the pic of Ms. Williams… like the emails…. and YET still, ppl champion them on. Have some names that Bravo have to make sure and NOT CALL in his song yes!

the beauty in this u know they going and tell we doe get no horrors dick going so leh we support it it done happen already and u know it have people will do it and when it happen again will b the same thing over

Correct.. already starting to see comments to that effect. New low for T&T… this is how the lawlessness at all levels is accepted, enabled and encouraged by those in authority, who should know better and be setting an example for others to follow

Show yourself, name yourself. At this stage in the game if you are bold enough to alter info be bold enough to face the public. We not dealing with anonymous. See Thema, that girl acted like royalty. Annnnd, she faced the public with maturity and true sportsmanship. Something that is anonymous to all of you

According to this, ex executives of the TTGF can still operate as if they are current? So really is a free for all up in that shiznit? Under whose authority did this Anonymous ex-exec make these changes? Once you get in you have power and access for life? What kind of circus is this??

But, at the end of the day, regardless of all the underhand, back door, scheming, and dealing, the only LEGAL body, which can shed light on the correct time, down to the second, Thema’s accreditation was pulled, is the FIG. Thus far, they’ve been very tight lipped about that. What this article does, is add more credence, and confirmation, to the TTGF going out of their way to replace Thema, the rightful representative, with Dick, the entitled Canadian. It also further alludes to the cozy relationship between the TTGF, and the FIG.

Super special dotishness, gyul. An ex-member is still authorized to alter the athletes’ profiles and she only happened to alter it to remove a specific link (as opposed to updating the entire profile) because that link isn’t “historical”.

I mean come on!! Wtf man? The lies not even creative. Or maybe the beauty is that she isn’t lying and that this is in fact what actually happens to which I still say WTactualF???? How is that even legal? What clause statute paragraph in a constitution anywhere makes this ok/normal/not insane/ not dishonest??? Calisa! I can’t. CANNOT. And there will be captain cacaholes who will crawl out the woodword to justify and try to dance this piece of shite into legitimacy.

So my really stupid question is – As an ex-official who or what gives her authority to change/adjust info on the FIG website? is access to the site public, meaning can anyone go in and change info for athletes? Why is she still allowed to act on behalf of the TTGF? Was she still officially representing TTGF in such matters?

Wait……..All yuh still on this?
Hear nah…..them people are going to fill this issue with more than enough twists and turns to ensure there is no discernable conclusion, then they’ll go right on operating just as they always have.

If this nonsense is to come to an end the TTGF will need to be scrapped and replaced by a more well structured organization designed with checks, balances, rules, guidelines and the transparency necessary to ensure all is adhered to and above board.

Sooooooo. Does the FIG website operate like Wikipedia where any and everybody can edit entries? Does he have user rights to their website that he can edit entries? How exactly logistically did that work?

Thank you for staying on top of this ‘horror story’. In my view Thema’s country failed her but you and Christian Hume continue to investigate and present the facts all of which confirm that Thema was unjustly robbed of her place in the olympics. I refuse to believe that the unjust actions of corrupt persons would be rewarded in spite of all the information revealed thus far. I believe that God is in charge and justice will prevail in the end. Blessings always.

Not at all. You see, the board answers to no one except the vote of the clubs. Protest would be wholly ineffective here. There are many people doing various potentially effective things. Since you have an interest in not making this a 9 day wonder. Here is some guidance: you can investigate the FIG itself since that international organization seems quite content with the TTGF, you can contact club owners and get information on why these board members get their vote every year, you can message the TTOC on if your enthusiasm for the Olympic Games has been dampened in general and thus will or will not be donating, you can contact local sponsors of the Olympics and do something similar.

Wow, so basically Thema was replaced before she could even hand in her accreditation. And what makes it worse is that the HOD didn’t giver her it till then I believe, or sometime late Friday. Which now possibly makes her coach look like he was apart of this. Idk I could be looking at this wrong.

If this former official does not hold an official role with the FIG or TTGF now, why would she still continue to access and alter information on FIG? Ttgf can claim the person acted on their own & without their approval.
Plus if the ttgf is given all authority to make any changes to the country’s records on FIG at anytime prior to ‘official’ deadlines, then there really is NO regulations to follow on removal of an athlete. Whether they’re injured or not, medical report or not? This gives a federation an all clear to boot out an athlete with no valid grounds at all?

You didn’t say when you first noticed Lue Shue listed as Dick’s assistant coach. That was the point of the brouhaha yesterday. That he was her coach for the Glasgow games and now they’re trying to hide it.

They like to work all kind of hours at night. I wonder what power an X-TTGF official has to alter the information. Maybe we should ask another X-TTGF official to remove Dick’s name in the FIG files and add Thema’s (being sarcastic).

Why is an ex official so involved?
Truth be told though… I really don’t understand why FIG didn’t allow the athlete and the alternate to be accredited at the same time. If there’s that 24 hour rule in place for replacement accreditation, what happens if the rep gets severely injured during warm up on the morning of the competition?

4 days agoby wired868That way! TKR captain Kieron Pollard points the way to success during CPL action against the St Lucia Zouks on 8 September 2019. Photo: Nicholas Bhajan/CA-Images/Wired868

2 days agoby wired868Where de cameraman gone?! Naparima College attacker Ezekiel Kesar celebrates in front of an abandoned SportsMax camera post during SSFL action against St Mary’s College at Lewis Street, San Fernando on 11 September. SportsMax refuses to broadcast the match because Naparima turned out in unsanctioned jerseys with an unapproved sponsor. Naps and St Benedict’s College have since apologized for the rule violation. Photo: Allan V Crane/CA-images/Wired868

4 days agoby wired868How sweet it is... Naparima College custodian Regaleo Holder stops to smell the roses after their penalty shootout win against Presentation College (San F'do) in the SSFL Digicel Cup on 7 September 2019 at the Mannie Ramjohn Stadium. Photo: Allan V Crane/CA-Images/Wired868